(first run in 1947)

The Rolls Royce Avon was the first axial flow turbojet designed and built by Rolls Royce.  It became one of that company’s most successful jet engines and powered many military and civil aircraft.  In Australia the Avon powered the Canberra bomber and the Avon Sabre fighter.

Design of the Avon began in 1945, the first one ran for the first time in 1947 and they entered production in 1950.  Since then over 11,000 have been manufactured.

They are strong and reliable.  The first Avons generated 29kN (6,500lb) of thrust and later the most powerful version generated 56.4kN (12,690lb) of thrust, (76.1kN (17,100lb) with afterburner).

The Avon flew in such well known aircraft at the Vickers Valiant and BAC Canberra bombers, the Hawker Hunter and BAC Lightning fighters and the deHavilland Comet and Sud Aviation Caravelle airliners.

The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Melbourne built 218 Avon engines under license for Australian made Canberra and Avon Sabre aircraft.

The Avon aero engine continued in production until 1974.  However, a version for static industrial or power generating use remains in production over seventy years after the first one was made.